Douglas Wilson Books

Having been a serrious engraver for just over a year now, I have amassed several books on engraving: mainly the "standards" for engravers: several of the Dover series of patterns, James L. Meek, Nimschke, etc. This has some of the finest and sharpest photos of engraving I have seen. And this book is cheap compaired to many of the others. Just plain beautiful. And --- worth every penny

If you've read your bible you shouldn't be surprised by anything in this book- it's all in there and it is sound doctrine- but it has been washed over, ignored, and disregarded by many churches/christians for the last 30 years. Thankfully we seem to be seeing the slow reemergence of this important topic. I call it a must read for any young single person hoping to marry one day AND for everyone else who is already married- husbands as well as wives. When BOTH parties in a marriage follow the biblical standard and purpose of marriage it is a beautiful and blessed thing! If you want your own personal ministry to carry Gods seal of approval, you must have your own household swept clean and put in order. This is a book that will motivate you to do just that.

After reading many reviews of this book I decided to get it. I was not disappointed. It is very challenging on many levels, biblically based, and clear. Wilson does not pull any punches and although you might find yourself smarting a bit after reading a particularly convicting section, you can't really argue against it. It is going on my short list of books to "master."

I bought this as a wedding gift for my best friend and her husband who just got married. I thought the book would get them much, much farther in life than a stainless steel place setting. ;) In all seriousness, this book is a phenomenal read, implementing biblical principles in a very readable style. Some books tell you what not to do; this book explains *why*. I highly recommend Reforming Marriage for husbands and wives, or even engaged couples preparing for marriage.

As I was listening to this audiobook, I was impressed that Douglas Wilson stuck with the Biblical concepts of marriage. The concepts of this book is exactly what is needed in today's world. It is refreshing to see someone going back to the Bible basics on what a Christian Home should be like. I recommend this to be part of any Church study for couples young and old.

If you take this book with a grain (or several) of salt, you can glean some useful, (mostly) Scriptural advice from it. Just bear in mind that Wilson has a tendency to either place his own opinions on the level of dogma, or to bend Scripture and pull it out of context to support his opinions. Here are a few examples:

Wilson calls it "a fundamental rebellion against God" for a woman to keep her birth name, rather than to take her husband's name upon marriage. He attempts to make a Biblical case for his position by pointing out that in Genesis 5:2, God calls both the male and female "Man" or "mankind," and that the word translated "mankind" is "Adam" in the Hebrew. Wilson apparently fails to realize that the custom of a woman changing her surname upon marriage is purely cultural--in fact, a large portion of the world's cultures, even the more patriarchal ones, do not change the wife's name to that of her husband's. His attempt to read a cultural custom into Genesis is a far-fetched leap of logic. Rather than twist Scripture and assign the "rebellious feminist" tag to all women who happen not to follow English common law, Wilson would do better to say that *in his opinion,* the practice of a wife adopting her husband's surname is a valuable tradition that reflects the unity of the marriage state, but is not a practice addressed in Scripture.

Another weird opinion of Wilson's, found in several places in this book, is the assertion that a husband is responsible for maintaining his wife's "loveliness." It was never clear in the book what exactly Wilson meant by this, except that he believed the results should be physically "visible." I presume that Wilson did not mean that the husband should stock up on Botox for his wife. Beyond this, however, since he never clarified his meaning, I can only speculate. I would guess that Wilson meant that the husband should ensure the growth of his wife's inner beauty, and that this inner beauty will translate into a greater physical beauty. As nice as this idea sounds, Wilson never gave any practical advice on how to accomplish this end. I'm guessing that's because it's impossible to cultivate inner beauty in another person--inner beauty is something that each person must work on for himself/herself. Therefore, there really isn't any practical advice that Wilson could give on this.

Wilson is also annoying in that much of his rhetoric reveals a maddeningly condescending view of women. Here are a few choice samples:
1) "A wife must not complain in her fruitfulness . . . . it is the wife's duty to submit to the will of God and gladly bear children for her husband." (i.e., no matter how much pain and discomfort you're experiencing in your pregnancy, just shut up about it and do your duty, woman.)
2) "Wives need to be led with a firm hand. A wife will often test her husband in some area, and be deeply disappointed if he gives in to her." This would be great advice if you substituted "toddlers" and "parents" for "wives" and "husbands" respectively in this passage.


Yet despite my frustrations with some of Wilson's opinions and his sometimes-pompous tone, I actually enjoyed much of his advice. And with the exception of few caveats on minor points, as laid out above, I believe Wilson's approach was generally a Biblical one. He had many good things to say about love and respect in marriage. For example, he emphasizes that while each partner needs both love and respect from the other, the husband's primary need is respect, while the wife's primary need is love. He discusses how true love in marriage is "far better" even than the romantic spark of infatuation, because it matures and grows. He addresses the necessity of keeping "short accounts" with each other--addressing small problems as soon as possible, before they grow into large problems and before there is time for resentment to build up. He emphasizes the importance of resolving disagreements privately and presenting a united front to your children and the world in general. And most importantly, he uses the model of Christ and the Church to demonstrate sacrificial love on the part of the husband and submission on the part of the wife.

I should also add that although Wilson is occasionally condescending toward women, as noted in the examples above, his overall attitude is not quite as chauvinistic (for lack of a better word) as some of the reviews here might lead one to believe. He urges women who excel in education and accomplishments not to dumb themselves down to attract a man; instead, such women should raise their expectations. He also notes that a woman's job as keeper of the home does not necessarily entail her staying at home all of the time: she should be oriented toward the home, but her industry can lead her to work outside the house as well.

Bottom line: If you can pick your way past Wilson's many dogmatic opinions scattered throughout the book, you will find that this basic, yet thought-provoking read can refresh your perspective on Christian marriage.

This is one of Henty's more readable books. All my boys enjoyed it. There is enough action to keep them focused and much less battle descripton than is usually in his books. There is also a volume of information about life in this ancient time which is such a fun way of learning history. I think it should be on the 'must read' list of any child's study of ancient Egypt.

I have two boys between 5 and 8 years old, and read this aloud to them at bedtime over the course of a month or so. They stayed very engaged and eager to hear what happens next. In fact, it was hard to stop reading sometimes and get them to calm down and go to sleep!

The language was a little "old fashioned" and needed some explaining at times, for kids their age. The very detailed descriptions of Egyptian agriculture, hunting, and embalming, as well as other religious customs, was a bit long and tedious at times, even for me (the reason for taking off one star.) But that is typical of Henty.

I would recommend using this as a good history suplement, that will allow you and your kids to connect the facts of history and remember them better, because they are set in the context of an exciting story. Moses makes a small cameo appearance, but the book is not overtly Christian. It ties the pantheism of the many Egyptian "gods" to the individual attributes of a single monotheistic God, in a remarkable scene between the high priest of Egypt and his son, who must flee Egypt to save his life. The connection is later made to the God of the Hebrews, when a Hebrew slave girl joins the group.

The values and morals of the lead characters are strong and timeless and great for boys particularly, which I believe was Henty's intent in most of the stories he wrote. We are now reading The Treasure of the Incas, which is also rich with culture and history, but the story is a little more exciting, as it involves the search for a secret treasure, something all little boys love.

If you're looking to provide historically-rich literature for your home, the Henty series is an excellent option. Besides the obvious of reading an enjoyable book based on historical fact, these stories are an easy way to increase the reader's patience and attention span. Additionally, immersing oneself in skillful writing is a simple method of promoting good grammar.

If you're a homeschooling family who intends to school through high school, reading these stories (silently or aloud) is an effortless way to prepare your students for more demanding authors such as Hawthorne or Shakespeare. Even though our children are grown and are attending college, we've opted to keep this series of books because they really are a great read.

The BrandenburgStudies ebook edition is obviously not edited for Kindle. The line breaks after a few letters, often in the middle of words. Too expensive for such poor quality, no wonder there was no sample.

I got this from another source in MP3CD format and only paid around $15! I had heard of G.A. Henty before, but WOW was this fun to listen to when knitting. In the future I'll buy the book format so I can start a collection. I learned a lot about culture and customs, the story was interesting, and the language was rich. My 6 year old son also listened with interest.

I was a little surprised at first by how lean this book is - there's one page of ... not explanation, really, but setup, and then a series of isolated vignettes. And that's it. No conclusion, footnotes, afterward, nothing.

The vignettes, though, are gold - gentle but powerful reasoning between "Evangelist" and various folks who are headed the wrong way on the road. "Evangelist", of course, is Wilson, doing what he does so well - jousting with opponents in the hope that they will lay down their weapons and join him at the Table.

I can best describe Wilson's style of argumentation as "insisting that folks take responsibility for what they are saying, with all the implications." As in real life, it ends with either 1. opponent thoughtfully walking away, considering new thoughts, or 2. continued disagreement, but with everything out in the open, or 3. spluttering indignation and stubborn persistence in the opponents, who are now bereft of their veneer of reason. Whatever the outcome, the vignettes are a great read, and great examples of evangelism by conversation.

I really enjoy reading Douglas Wilson. I agree whole-heartedly with him 80% of the time. Unfortunately that other 20% of disagreement is on the doctrine of justification, a notion that is bound up with the very heart of the gospel as evangelicals have formulated it since the time of the Reformation. This book is great though.


It is a fictional account between Evangelist and several objectors to the Christian faith. Evangelist is on his way to the City and along the way tries to warn and persuade people who are heading to the Abyss. Wilson is a great writer, very witty, sharp, and satirical at times. Wilson is also a Van Tilian presuppositionalist. This book is all example with no theory. It is a very refreshing and easy read. Here is the table of contents:

The Road
Randy--Immorality
John--Antinomianism
Janice--Feminism
Jack--Agnosticism
Rev. Howe--Empty Scholarship
Mark--Atheism
Robert--Election
Jim and Sarah--Marriage
Dorothy--Hypocrisy in the Church
Bill--Salvation and Sanctification
Miriam--Pantheism
Paul--Evolution
Michael--Roman Catholicism

Persuasions: A Dream of Reason Meeting Unbelief. This is a wonderful book. Christians sometimes come across as non-thinking, non-reasoning, hyperactive people who simply put their feelings above everything.I teach an adult Sunday School Class and wanted a simple book that would help introduce (to some) and refresh (with others) the idea of evangelism using aplogetics. My students often come to class discussing answers given them by friends and relatives that they are not prepared to answer.This book was just what I needed. It addresses most of the quick responses to Christianity given by many unbelivers. Upon receiving the book I read it at least 3 times during the weekend. What a joy. Not only is the dialogue interesting, it is at times humorous as well. Unlike some of the other material out there on apologetics this book is simple to read and the wit although quick and sharp is easy to follow. You don't have to be a genius to read and enjoy this one!
This book would also be a great introduction to the subject of apologetics for teens. I have a sixteen year old son who enjoys the questions and answers put forth by apologetics.

The book has 3 main virtues: it's short, smart, and gentle. The result shows how Christian thought can surround and correct external challengers ... and also internal deviations.

The thirteen topics are: immorality, antinomianism (the belief faith is sufficent for salvation, freeing Chrisitans from moral law), feminism, agnosticism, empty scholarship, atheism, election, marriage, hypocrisy in the church, salvation and sanctification, pantheism (New Age, etc.), evolution, Roman Cathoicism.

If for some reason none of these topics interests you, you will still profit by reading the book. 500-page apologetics books filled with footnotes, scholarly analysis, and invaluable data are vital, but putting them to effective use can be tricky. Most criticism of Christianity comes from incorrect reasoning which can be readily fixed by simply comparing it with correct reasoning. Which this book does.

The book's dialogues are practical ... they follow the flow of objections and criticisms anyone who has engaged unbelief will recognize, just as a fisherman learns to recognize the twitches on the line.

They are not fake dialogues designed to make response easy, but the criticisms found in hundreds of books, taught in colleges and many modern seminaries, and every time you flip on the TV, go to a movie, or read the newspaper.

Finally, the book avoids a harsh approach. They really are conversations "on the road" -- the imagery itself providing some "minds-eye relief" compared to, say, a treatise on symbolic logic.

In the end, if their objections flow only from what they believe is well-founded reason, those conversing with the Evangelist would be left with no avenue but graceful surrender. But pride and sin still have to be dealt with and, in the book, this means the people sometime just walk away.

Real-world application of these arguments is more likely to be met with emotionalism and rage, so things won't be so smooth, even if you are gentle.

I remember one time I found myself just talking in circles with one civil, proudly rational person. I was never able to progress despite careful explanations in many different ways. I then started asking him to repeat the sentence I just said to verify he was hearing and understanding me. He wasn't even able to bring himself to repeat the words, but had to alter them ... and refused to acknowledge he was altering them. We just kept going round and round and round. So pride and sin are still the main problems, not reason, but there are many others for who the reasoned arguments of this book will be very helpful.

Kudos to the author for an excellent primer on Christian apologetics. This semi-allegorical book is designed to equip the "average" Christian to understand the major criticisms of his faith, and how to refute them logically, lovingly, and effectively -- without needing a seminary degree!

The narrator relates his observations of Evangelist, who travels the road leading to the City, i.e. heaven. He meets a series of people traveling in the opposite direction, toward the Abyss which awaits at the other end of the road. Each mistakenly believes, however, that he is headed in the right direction. When Evangelist gently notes their error, each proceeds to explain to him why they are correct and he is wrong. Each dialogue is based on a different critique of Christianity, whether it be antinomianism, existentialism, or hypocrisy within the church, to name just a few. Each conversation ends with the traveler continuing on his way, with new ideas and implications to think about.

There are thirteen such encounters in all, each presented in a concise, easy to read chapter. The arguments follow a smooth logical flow, and the reasoning presented in each chapter is incisive. In short, this book enables the lay reader to quickly grasp and use some powerful tools to "be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." This is an incredibly practical resource which can easily be read in one sitting. However, I definitely intend to re-read it when the opportunity arises. I commend this book to the reading of every committed believer in Jesus Christ.

I don't know exactly how to assign this book a number of stars. The book is a collection of five essays about dating and each of the essays takes a very different stand. Lauren Winner's essay is brilliant, and I think people should buy this book just so they can read it -- she manages to both set out a beautiful view of marriage and remind readers that some people are called to singleness... (I also love how she uses literature in her essay! She describes a novel by Tova Mirvis that I now want to read!) Jerusha and Jeremy Clark's essay is also sane and balanced. But several of the other essays--honestly, they seem like they were written for a very small constituency of very, very, very conservative Chrisitans who live in an air-tight Christian bubble and have no contact with the wider world. I am a Christian myself, and I am glad that all of these essays affirm the authority of Scripture. But the perspective that some of the contibutors are taking just doesn't fit with the world most of us single/dating Christians live in. Many of us cannot, for example, have our parents deeply involved in our dating lives because we live nowhere near our parents, or our parents aren't believers and really have a very different view of marriage.

So, the book does what it advertises: it offers five very different perspectives. Some of the perspetives ring true, and others do not.

This book is a great way to learn quickly about 5 different approaches to relationships, ranging from betrothal to courtship to dating. The authors write well, and the range of styles makes it a fun read.

The book raises important issues: guy/girl friendships, emotional vs. physical intimacy, guarding your heart, how to view singleness, what to look for in a potential spouse, physical attraction, parental involvement, etc. When I finished I didn't have a clear sense which path I want to follow, but I felt that I got a lot of solid, Biblical teaching about how to think about marriage and relationships.

I appreciated the way Chediak asked each author to address three different scenarios: teenagers in youth group, college students, and a single 30-something woman. I'm a college student myself, but hearing the authors' advice to other age groups made me think more about parental involvement and long-term singleness.

All in all, a great read!

I believe it was in a Tom Clancy book I read many, many years ago where I found a statement that daughters are given by God to punish men for what they did, said and thought when they were young men. Obviously I know that is purely the imagined theology of a writer, yet I do think that having a daughter causes a man to take a look deep within himself. Every man instinctively feels the need to protect his daughters. For some reason men do not feel as deep a desire to protect their sons. Just yesterday I received a Christmas Newsletter from a family friend. He wrote about a young man who has shown interest in his daughter and will soon be coming to spend time with the family. "[He] is quite a gentleman but just in case, when he comes I intend to be cleaning my .45-caliber pistol. I also told him that if he ever touches my daughter I have no problem at all with going back to prison."

Sure he is writing tongue-in-cheek but there is a definite truth behind the humor: men desire to protect their daughters and are probably far more protective of the purity of their daughters than they were of women with whom they related in their younger days.

As with all parents, Aileen and I have sometimes paused to think about our daughter's future. We truly hope that in due time she meets a godly young man who will treat her like the princess she is. When we consider her future we simply cannot picture her, at age sixteen, heading off for an evening out with a young gentleman caller and just expecting him to bring her back sometime long after we have gone to bed. How could I let her out of my sight with a guy who, well, may just have motives for her that are consistent with the motives of most young men? At the same time, I don't feel that every good dad involves the parents!

And so, when I gaze into the future, I wonder how my children will begin a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. In Christian circles there is no end of controversy about the best way of doing this. While most believers agree on the necessity of maintaining sexual purity and of every young person submitting his or her life to the Lord, opinions differ on whether kids should date, court or even be betrothed. 5 Paths To The Love Of Your Life, edited by Alex Chediak, addresses five of these philosophies. Five authors contribute a chapter outlining what they feel is a biblical method of finding a potential spouse.

Chapter 1 - The Countercultural Path: Lauren Winner begins by tracing the evolution of dating and relationships in American culture. She shows how dating changed from being centered around the woman's home and family to heading outside the home to theatres and restaurants. In this transition the "power" in relationships passed from the woman to the man. In modern times dating has returned to the home in the form of casual sexual encounters. She proposes that Christians adopt a countercultural path which emphasizes chastity, love and marriage. She emphasizes the importance of community in relationships. She feels that dating should be done with a view to marriage but that breaking up is not necessarily improper.

Chapter 2 - The Courtship Path: Douglas Wilson, in a very funny essay, proposes that courtship is the most biblical solution. He stresses the importance of parental responsibility and guidance and defines courtship as "the active, involved authority of the young woman's father (or head of the household) in the formation of her romantic attachments leading to marriage." When parents are unavailable or unsuited for the task, the couple should appeal to the church authorities for guidance. During the early stages of a relationship there should be no physical contact and contact after engagement should be limited to minor physical contact. Wilson emphasizes the importance of a lifelong committment of a father to his daughter so that he has credibility in her eyes when he has to make difficult decisions regarding her potential marriage partner. He distances his model from the type espoused by fathers who are overbearing and care more for rules and control than for the well-being of their daughters. It seemed to me that this view presents courtship at its best and at its least-offensive.

Chapter 3 - The Guided Path: Rick Holland suggests a guided path in which couples are guided by ten principles of a God-centered relationship. He feels that young couples should be guided by their parents and ultimately by the Scriptures as they seek to honor God in their relationships. The principles he lays out are more important than the methodology a couple adopts. While this allows either courtship or dating, he is sure to emphasize that casual dating is not acceptable, and neither is dating done before a couple is old enough to actually think about marriage.

Chapter 4 - The Betrothal Path: - Jonathan Lindvall proposes what is easily the least-familiar path. Betrothal, he feels, is a biblical mandate given by God and mirrored in Christ's relationship to the church. He feels that an irrevocable covenant union must be established that defines the process between singleness and marriage. I found that his method relies quite heavily on the leading, guiding and confirming of the Lord wherein we have to ask direction from the Lord and so on. Most people will immediately reject his proposal and perhaps for good reason as I am not sure he proves that the betrothal's of biblical times were more than a cultural mandate. Having said that, it does provide some valuable fruit for thought.

Chapter 5 - The Purposeful Path: - Jeramy and Jerusha Clark argue for a purposeful path which is far less-structured than any of the others. They refer often to other books they have written on this subject and propose that young couples ensure that, while they are not turning down opportunities to enjoy the company of the opposite sex, they are also not engaging in practices that Scripture forbids. As with the other authors, they emphasize the important of parental involvement and support.

Having read these five approaches I feel that my preference for my children would lie somewhere in the first three chapters. I am already seeking to build a strong, vibrant relationship with my children so that I will have some measure of credibility in their eyes if and when I am forced to make difficult decisions on their behalf. I don't know that there is a "one size fits all" approach to relationships that will work with every couple and I am open to allowing and even encouraging flexibility in how they engage in romantic relationships.

I was surprised to discover how much I enjoyed reading this book. It is too late for me to apply the collective wisdom in this book to my own life, but I trust it will give me much material for reflection as my children get to the age where they begin to believe the opposite sex to be something a little less than yucky. Just the other day my daughter confided in me that she would like to get married some day, but doesn't feel she can because she would have to kiss a boy on the lips. I know that, before too long, she will have a change of heart.

I recommend this book to parents and young people alike and trust that it will benefit all who read it.

5 Paths to the Love of Your Life: Defining Your Dating Style says, "Our goal is not to proselytize you to any particular position but instead to provide the big picture: the logic behind five of the most widespread perspectives on relationships held by Christians today (some more controversial than others, depending upon your personal point of view). That way, you can make your own biblically informed decisions, being fully educated and, Lord willing, more mature and intentional about the way you approach relationships."

I cannot extol the chapter written by Lauren F. Winner enough! Readers should purchase her book Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity as a complement to Defining Your Dating Style. Winners' perspective on dating, which has been dubbed the Countercultural Path, is the viewpoint that most readers will probably find best attuned to the realities of the current dating scene without being so contemporary as to be barely Christian.

The Betrothal Path, advocated by Jonathan Lindvall, might be better termed as The Arranged Marriage Path because that is exactly what he is advocating: arranged marriage. Lindvall is in favor of a dating style that is unworkable in all but a few situations and even he seems to be a bit hazy on all of the details concerning how the Betrothal Path would work under all circumstances.

All 5 paths are clearly defined and at the end of each chapter a section is highlighted that clearly defines the "path" that was just covered, what makes the path distinctive from the others, key verses of scripture that seem to lend biblical credence to the dating style, and finally, the benefits and pitfalls that one is likely to encounter in putting the dating style into practice.

When I read the introduction to this book, I found myself wanting to read on and discover what each of the five contributors had to say. Chediak sets up the contents nicely and in an engaging way. He puts forth three scenarios that help bring the various principles and methods espoused by each contributor more sharply into focus.

I'm guessing most readers, like me, will find themselves aligning closely with one or more contributors, while finding others less convincing. I noticed that some of the user reviews were critical of what they saw to be "weaker" vs. "stronger" essays. But to me, that is the point of this book. It forces the reader to think through his opinions and presuppositions. For me, reading this book was much like being invited to facilitate a panel discussion with five people who have much experience in counseling others on this topic. I get the privilege of hearing opposing views and being able to compare and contrast them in a concise format. Chediak also helps to bring this comparison together nicely in the concluding chapter.

For the Christian reader, the book aids in some healthy examination of potentially unexamined ideas. I am forced to ask myself whether my ideas about dating, courtship, etc. are based on biblical principles or not. I found this a healthy process, and as a father of four, I think it will be a valuable resource in guiding my children through their eventual close relationships with potential spouses. I found the book a worthwhile read that lends itself easily to good discussions.

Loved this book. Had many of his "Trading Spaces" rooms and was full of other ideas and detailed instructions on how to accomplish them.

As a young single male in my very first apartment, I had no idea where to begin when it came time to decorate it. With the holidays and guests' arrivals fast approaching, I needed some guidance and direction -- fast! A friend, who happens to be a decorator that I cannot afford to pay for help, suggested that I pick up "Doug's Rooms." All I can say is -- THANK YOU DOUG! His positive, can-do attitude really inspired me! I was so energized by his use of exciting colors -- I knew I would have to do the same in my own space. I was completely clueless about accessories! Doug's suggestions really gave me perspective on this complicated task, and with his help, I never knew I could get so creative on my own! I strongly suggest that anyone and everyone pick up Doug's book. Whether it's your first apartment or your home could use some freshening up, look no further than "Doug's Rooms" for the inspiration to get your project moving! Thanks Doug!

This is a rarity; a decorating book that you'll read cover-to-cover instead of just looking at the pretty pictures. Doug Wilson walks you through rooms he decorated (about 10 pages per room). He explains his thinking for solving different problems in the room and meeting the owner's needs. You really get good tips this way and it opens your mind to new possibilities.
The show piece rooms are very sophisticated with innovative paint treatments. Even though the results are not something I would copy, the way of thinking and getting ideas is quite useful.
The last 30 pages tells you how to do some of the effects (tissue paper walls, no-sew window valance, stenciling curtains, covering a dresser in fabric, making a padded headboard).
Wilson has a way with words, besides being Richard-Gere handsome and familiar to many from the TV decorating shows. I'm glad this wasn't just a quickie HGTV fan book. It really delivers some solid decorating information.

Doug Wilson's book is amazing. It has really helped me tackle some problem areas in my house. I have incorporated life and color in rooms that were once dull and unused. I'm looking forward to a sequle.
Thanks Doug - keep em' coming.

I have always enjoyed leafing through design books and seeing the amazing interiors of other people's homes. Until I read Doug's Rooms, I never attempted any do-it-yourself type design projects. However,in major need of some window treatments (and unable to find any to fit my large dining room window), I attempted the "no-sew window valance." The step-by-step instruction in Doug's Rooms made it a breeze, and everyone who visits my condo comments on how wonderful they are, asking if I had them custom made! Doug's Rooms is a must-read!

This book captures the imagination of a child... I can't tell you how many conversations I have had with my own children that remind me of the narrator in this book. The author applies descriptive wording to paint a vivid image of what might happen. The words like "mischievous, dreadful, grouchy, etc" enlighten a child's vocabulary. Of course I don't want my children acting "malicious" but I do want them to know what it means when they hear or read it. It is a great way to introduce new words and talk about positive behavior. My 6 year old son loves the pictures and re-examines them each time we read this. There is a wonderful energy about this book. I can imagine reading this book to a classroom of kindergarteners with wide eyes. It is perfect for that setting! Love it!

I really loved this book. I am not a teacher just a mom that likes to read to her kids. The concept of the story is cute. I would shout if I dropped my ice cream too!! But it shows you can't just shout anywhere...especially the zoo. My boys like the "describing words". In fact I think on more than one occasion I have used..."Your a BIG BULL MOOSE WITH A BAD ATTITUDE!" Thanks Ms. Wilson for helping me find a way to get my kids out of a bad mood!

We read to our two month old son constantly and Karma Wilson's books are our favorites. Young children love rhymes and hers are some of the best. Even better, her books are fun for the parents, too.

This is my son's (18 months) FAVORITE book and has been for some time. And we read A LOT of books!! He constantly brings it to me to read and as soon as he hears the first sentence, his whole face lights up. My daughter (age 3 going on 16) loves it as well and she is VERY curious to know what all the big words mean? (which I for one like!) They both love the repetition and beautiful artwork. They especially love the phrase "Don't say I didn't warn you," which is repeated quite often. This is a home run for Karma Wilson! Her best yet in my opinion!!

Karma Wilson is one of the most awesome children's book authors I have encountered in a long time. There is so much to love about all her books but this one in particular gives a teacher or parent an opportunity to really go to town with adjectives. My daughter and I LOVE "describing words" and we are encouraged page by page to come up with some of our own. There is nothing better than getting the creative juices flowing with delicious words like dreadful, grouchy, conniving and malicious. A fun activity to develop from a book like this is to help your child build his or her own dictionary. Add a word or two a day and watch your child's vocabulary soar!!

Angels in the Architecture (AA) is a bold, magnificent book. And when it is wrong in factual assertions, it is magnificently wrong. Ok, seriously. The authors propose against the stale, bloody worldview of modernity a rich, robust *paleo* medieval worldview rooted in Protestant Theology. My review will come from a number of angles.

*What if Tolkien were a Calvinist?*
The subtitle suggests Tolkienesque themes. But isn't the subtitle contradictory? Tolkien was a *Catholic!* Well, stay with me for a second. The themes found in Lord of the Rings are not inconsistent with the protestant worldview. This book (AA) should not be read as a historical survey of the middle ages that ends with the convenient conclusion, "Oh, the middle ages happened to be thoroughly protestant after all." No, this book reads as a reconstruction of the Christian worldview-praxis drawing from the finest elements of Medievalism. This is where it is more Tolkienesque than Tolkien himself. Roman Catholicism, in its worst forms, had a nature-grace dualism, robbing it of the goodness of an earthy, creational life. This book ditches the nature-grace scheme and embraces the earthy aspect of the Christian faith (e.g., sex for marital love's sake, beauty that isn't platonised, etc.).

Pros of the Book:
1. Its hauntingly beautiful style. Chapters 2 and 3 are worth memorizing. They will teach you how to write well. The sections on Beowulf and "pure northerness" are worth the price of the book.
2. Its boldness. Modern-day Calvinism needs to make Calvinism beautiful. There is nothing wrong with that. Be winsome and witty in presenting the faith. More people might actually become Calvinists, who knows?
3. Its ability to say a lot with a little. At times the authors do engage in sweeping generalizations. Nevertheless, they also express some knotty problems with amazing ease.

Cons of the Book:
~1. Accuracy? Did the Middle Ages really teach this? Probably not. That's not the point, as I suggested earlier. This should be read as a future reconstruction of society along medieval lines, lines which have been purged (no pun intended) of its compromises.
~2. I am not convinced of Wilson's argument for the Authorized Text. He makes a good case, but I am not buying.
~3. The chapter on agrarianism has taken a lot of hits. I actually like it. But I was told that I shouldn't like it, so I acquiesed. Seriously, the authors could have better nuanced it to say "garden-city" as man's telos.

This book is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. My soul simply aches after reading anything in it. I especially enjoyed the chapter Wine Dark Sea, and its analysis of ancient pagan art. Wilson claims that Jesus Christ has overthrown that regime, and the only beauty available to us now is through Him. Even non-Christians, in producing works of great art, must do so in reference to Christianity.

However, there is one major flaw in this book, though perhaps the authors never intended to address this issue. That flaw is this: the authors make the claim that the Medieval times were times when truth, beauty, and goodness were defining charateristics. It's fine to make that claim, but there is no proof of it in the book that I can see. I _want_ to believe it simply because I see no beauty whatsoever in modernity or post-modernity. I want to believe them, yet I know next to nothing about the Medieval times. It seems to me that the authors might very profitably spend some time supporting their claim that the Medieval period was everything they claim it was. Or perhaps they have already done that, and haven't produced the evidence of their work. In either case, I want to see the proof!

You've whetted my appetite, now satisfy it!

Modernism has failed. While most of the intelligentsia still view the world through the strict, formal constructs of the modernist lens, the actual system is a dying religion. The "enlightenment" has kept many blindfolded through the centuries of its existence. The so-called "reason" of enlightenment thought has imprisoned and murdered. It has created the cold, ugly world in which we now live.

But what is to be done? It seems as though these Dark Ages will never end. Even most Christians, who should know better, have bowed before the god of modernity. Should we despair? It certainly seems justified. However, amidst the darkness which enshrouds the mass of pop-Christian fluff books and secular nonsense stands a wonderful new book called Angels in the Architecture, written by Douglas Jones and Douglas Wilson. In this book, Jones and Wilson remind us that things have not always been like they are now. There was an age when truth, beauty, and goodness were the defining virtues: what has been called the Medieval period. This was an age in which God was both glorified and enjoyed. Modernist Christians believe that we are more holy if we eternally wear a long sour face and suck on lemons. Medieval Christians believed that God had called them to enjoy life - to laugh, to play, and to feast.

But Jones and Wilson do not merely look back at the medieval period with nostalgia. They apply what used to be to what could be. Rather than falling into the trap of pessimism and despairing lamenting about our culture, Angels in the Architecture presents a multi-faced display of what life, culture, and a worldview should be. Douglas Jones gives a good overview of the book by describing what virtues a Christian culture should manifest:

"[A] love of beauty permeating every part of life; a deep respect for the majesty and liberty of God; a holy recognition of the deep biblical antithesis; humility in covenantal redemption - imputed righteousness; laughter as a habit of life; a devotion to celebration - feasting and lovemaking; the centrality of the Church; a humble submission to godly tradition; the peace of federal headship in marriage; a soulful nurturing of children for millennia; a community shaped by rural rhythms; self-responsibility and a fading state; an acknowledgement of creational hierarchies; a harmony of gratitude and discipline in developing technologies; the predominance of poetic over rationalistic knowledge; a confidence in the triumph of the cross."

This book is probably the best book a Christian could read in order to get a vision of what Wilson terms "a second Christendom" would be like. We should be striving to conform ourselves not to a rigid, formal, modernistic Christianity, but a Christianity full of life, zest, and power. Until we break free from the cage called modernity, we shall never truly experience and enjoy the life that God has given to us.

While reading this book, I felt that I was being preached to.. that I wasn't a good Christian if I didn't have children or find a church to belong to, or if I allowed the State to rule me. I had to read the book for a Medieval Chritianity class, and really, there wasn't much medival information, other than to quote medival figures. I was hoping for a book that would show how the Medival people did things in order to show their love for God..not just the occasional aside about them.

Anyone who has read or heard material produced by the Dougs (Wilson and Jones) of Canon Press can appreciate their contributions and insight to the discussions within the evangelical church. However, it is their thoughts and scholarly work on the pursuit of the full, Christian life where they are at their best. What Angels in the Architecture suggests is nothing short of revolutionary. Not an Oliver-Cromwell-meets-Paul-Revere type of revolution, but a much more insidious revolution that spans the distance of even centuries. It is the kind of revolution whose battlefields are the family gathered for dinner, the place where the rod meets the rump, an author's godly and submissive inspirations, the church gathered for the Lord's supper. Christian medievalism must be a grass-roots revolution, calling for faithfulness and generational patience in Christ's body. The Dougs teach us that we must stand on the broad shoulders of our godly church traditions and begin to think and feel the rhythmns of truth, beauty, and goodness before the face of God. Our culture must be transformed, so we must see the urgency and the opportunites that surround us. The Protestant Reformation may have preserved God's truth, but we must synthesize reformational truth with the glorious cultural visions of our medieval fathers. In Angels in the Architecture, Jones and Wilson have broken the ice. Now we must see how deep the water goes.

As with all the author's books, this one has far too much emphasis on the fancy, special, engraved firearms.

This book was one of the best purchases I have ever made! Already it has given me hours of entertainment, new knowledge of the west, and new insights in areas I had not before looked into.

The photography, and the items pictured, are worth the price of the book alone.

Overall an excellent book!!! And worth every penny!

FDL

The book is full of color pictures of the guns used in the west and has exhibits from many of the western museums. It is not just a study of the Colt Single Action Army but covers rifles and shotguns. It displays the guns that are documented as being used by the lawmen and gunfighters of the time.

Another great book from R.L. Wilson. Every bit as entertaining and informative as the others he's wrote. Fun to read about the old west and the guns used to tame it.

My gun loving son, cried when his teacher would not let him bring this book to school to show his friends. It's absolutely gorgeous with an interesting text and glorious photos. We love the section showing the actors and their screen guns.

All four books are hardcover and smith bound, measuring 8" x10". The set is a background commentary for the New Testament and includes many, many color pictures, maps, and charts (on every page there is something). Further the set is littered with interesting sidebars which are set as text boxes in the margins or as boxes set within the text. The set is written from an evangelical perspective.

Overall the set appears to be well done. Each Gospel or epistle covered has an introductory historical survey of the culture that the Gospel or epistle was written in as well as the specifics of the local customs or issues that are addressed within the Gospel or epistle.

The commentary then proceeds to address the historical-culture issues that each verse has as a backdrop. For example in the third volume the introduction to the Epistle to the Romans contains,

"Understanding Paul's own situation as he writes Romans helps us appreciate the purpose and theme of the letter. In 15:14-22, he looks at a period of ministry just concluded. "From Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum," Paul tells us, "I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ" (15:19). This verse indicates that Paul's ministry has reached a significant geographical turning point. As Luke tells us in Acts, Paul first preached Christ in Damascus (and perhaps Arabia) after his conversion (Acts 9:19-22; cf. Gal. 1:17). Only after three years did he go to Jerusalem to preach, and then only briefly (Gal. 1:18; cf. Acts 9:28-29). Why, then, mention Jerusalem as the starting point for his ministry? For two reasons. First, the city represents the center of Judaism, and Paul is concerned to show how the gospel spread from the Jews to the Gentiles. Second, the city stands at one geographic extremity in his missionary travels. At the other extremity is Illyricum, the Roman province occupying what is today Albania and parts of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Only here does Paul refer to missionary work in this province, although such a ministry can be fit easily into the movements of Paul on his third missionary journey (see comments on Rom. 15:19). An "arc" drawn from Jerusalem to Illyricum, therefore, passes over, or nearby, the important churches that Paul has planted in south Galatia (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe), Asia (Ephesus), Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea), and Achaia (Corinth).
But what does Paul mean when he claims that he has "fully proclaimed" the gospel in these areas? The Greek has simply the equivalent of our verb "fulfill" (peplerokenai). To "fulfill" the gospel, therefore, probably means to preach it sufficiently such that viable churches are established. These churches can then carry on the task of evangelism in their own territories while Paul moves on to plant new churches in virgin gospel territory (cf. 15:20-21).
In pursuit of this calling, Paul is moving on to Spain (15:24). On the way, he hopes to stop off at Rome, evidently to enlist the Roman Christians' support for his new gospel outreach (see comments on 15:24). but before he can begin his trip to the western Mediterranean, he must first return to Jerusalem (15:25). Throughout the third missionary journey, Paul has collected money from the Gentile churches he planted to bring back to the impoverished Jerusalem believers. Now he is ready to embark on this trip, and he earnestly asks the Roman Christians to pray for it (15:30-33). The collection represents for Paul a key step in what he hopes will be the reconciliation of the Jewish and Gentile Christians in the early church" (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, vol. 3, pp. 3-5).

An example of the commentary itself from 2 Cor. 11:14:

"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (11:14). In some Jewish traditions, Satan transformed himself into an angel of light and deceived Eve a second time:

'Then Satan was angry and transformed himself into the brightness of angels and went away to the Tigris River to Eve and found her weeping. And the devil himself, as if to grieve with her began to weep and said to her, "Step out of the river and cry no more...come out to the water and I will lead you to the place where your food has been prepared."'"

Largely this set appears to be written as a tool for working pastors. It's tone is conversational and does not appeal to excessive use of jargon. It provides all kinds of references and antidotal information which would be useful for sermon illustrations and story-telling. In addition, contemporary source material is referenced as well as recommended reading should a topic peak the readers interest to the point where they wish to more fully explore it. While Zondervan's Backgrounds Commentary is not a scholarly reference, it is obviously aimed at the pastor or church leader who wants to go beyond the basics of a working knowledge of the Bible, yet who also wants a reference that doesn't take a week of reading to get at the stuff that they will eventually wind up presenting in a sermon or Bible study.

A caveat I do have offhand is that the footnotes appear as endnotes at the end of each Gospel or epistle. Stylistically I can understand why this was done as footnotes would break up the overall flow of the work presented; however for footnote geeks this does involve the "Sears Roebuck" method of getting at them.

At first when I opened this set to determine how I might benefit from this commentary, I was disappointed, but not because of the content, but because of what I was looking for. I was looking for indepth information on a passage, but that is not the real value of this book. This book gives historical and cultural background information on specific passages of Scripture, and helps to explain often-misunderstood verses and passages of Scripture. The purpose of this commentary (or at least the value I glean from it) is not scholarly lexical study, or explanations of theologies in the New Testament, but instead the significance of the cultural settings often ignored by us who live 2000 years after the writing of Scripture and in vastly different cultural contexts.

A great example of the use of this commentary is John 7:37-44. The commentary explains why it was significant that Jesus used the phrase "streams of living water." In doing so, it explains the 7th day of the "great day of the Feast" (Feast of Tabernacles) was the pinnacle of the celebration and that each day of the Feast had the priest pouring water over the altar that symbolized the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is often lost in most commentaries, and the authors of this set spend a great deal of time focusing on the aspects of the Bible that are so often glossed over because the historical significance of the events are lost on us, who have not lived in Scriptural times and settings.

The authors show no sign (to me) of theological bias toward any tradition besides emphasizing conservative, contemporary, scholarly study of the Bible.

This set is beautifully bound, with heavy covers and reminds me of a college textbook, rather than a commentary. The books open without having to crack the spine, and the pages are very heavy glossy stock. Throughout the book are color photos and illustrations of biblical artifacts, archaeological finds, and maps/charts depicting items spoken about in Scripture.

Overall, this is a superb set for background information. This is not the best choice as a first commentary set, since it specializes in backgrounds of the text, and not strictly on exegesis. However, this set acts as a superb specialty set to help students of the Bible understand many of the tougher illustrations the biblical authors used in conveying the Truth about Jesus Christ.

This is one of the most helpful resources to me when preparing Bible studies and messages. Each N.T. book is written by a reputable, evangelical scholar who has expertise in that particular book. For each N.T. book, there is a very helpful capsule in the beginning that tells you the important facts of each book (author, date, occasion, and key themes). Next, there is a helpful brief commentary for the whole book. There are excellent, color in-text maps as you read the commentary. Furthermore, there are great feature articles that give you insights into some of the pertinent beliefs, gods/goddesses/ key terms that are featured in the N.T. book. There is also a capsule on "reflections" that help the reader ponder and meditate on key themes and concepts. Finally, there is a wonderful annotated bibliography at the end of each book for further, suggested reading.

I am a seminary trained teacher who regularly prepares and teaches presentations and Bible lessons. This is one of the most helpful resources in my library which gives me a comprehensive analysis at a N.T. book at a glance. I read through this backgrounds commentary first and then read through various scholarly commentaries on the particular N.T. book.

I give it my highest recommendation and believe that it will be an excellent resource for laypersons, seminary students, pastors, professors, and Sunday School teachers. It may be pricey but well worth the cost. I hope you'll be as blessed as I am by this outstanding resource.

The title "Illustrated" compel me to expect a commentary that be tastily read through cover-to-cover. However, I found its photos are not as bright as Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holding the name "Commentary", I feel like reading an extensive study bible when there is no bible text; this commentary explains selected word or phrase of almost every verse in the New Testament. And honestly, as it claims to enlighten "Bible Background", I regard NT Wright's The Challenge of Jesus gives much better cultural-historical illumination to the Gospel.

This commentary also need more proof-read, for example, when I tried to find what the bible says in 2 Chron 1:34 as Vol. 1 page 9 cited, I found 1 Chron 1:34 fit better to the passage. Its maps also do a little help. I often met with them a few pages after the text or sometimes even couldn't locate some places stated in the text.

The Note provides more information. But I feel it useless because I was too lazy to go back and forth to find out what the indication number stands for. It's supposed to be placed right bellow the text as footnote instead of as end-of-chapter note.

Yes, considering this non-technical commentary neither as expository nor critical, it gives enjoyable and insightful comments that also lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of archeological findings (not with art-works as in CEV Learning Bible). But, if you consider yourself as informed layperson, you need to wait for the next edition.

While William Barclay's set on the NT is my favorite and should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of the NT, Zondervan's Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary is probably the most friendly for the newcomer or teenage Bible student. Unlike Barclay's set, this has glossy paper and excellent illustrations, maps, and insets. These come closest to resembling college textbooks in their format and appearance. They are likely to appeal to high school and college age kids, and old guys like me who like to sit on the sofa and read a Bible commentary that just looks good and is interesting. Again, Zondervan has produced a product with mass appeal.